Safer roads for the Central West with Black Spots removed

Upgrades on Sofala Road at Peel and Wiagdon now complete under federal Black Spot Programme

Safety has been improved through wider shoulders, new vehicle-activated speed signs and wet weather-activated signs

The two sites have seen 30 crashes in the five years to 2014

Two dangerous sections of road in the central west of New South Wales—the sites of 30 crashes and one fatality in the five years to 2014—have been upgraded using funds from the Australian Government’s Black Spot Programme.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the $765,000 upgrades on Sofala Road at Peel, and Wiagdon, were designed to reduce the historically high crash rates at each site.

“With such a high crash history, this is a location where the Black Spot Programme can make a real difference to the community, where on average completed Black Spot projects reduce fatalities and injuries by 30 per cent,” Mr Chester said.

“Road crashes cause an enormous amount of strain on local communities and emergency services, which is why we continue to fund upgrades like these two to help reduce the amount of crashes on our roads and their impacts.“

Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee said the upgrades would address a long-standing issue for the community.

“Safety improvements were carried out on a 3.5-kilometre section of road just south of Wattle Flat at Wiagdon, where the shoulder was widened and new safety barriers installed to prevent motorists from crossing over lanes and into oncoming traffic,” Mr Gee said.

“Work at Wiagdon also included installation of four vehicle-activated speed signs and two wet-weather activated signs through the series of tight curves on the road.

“The works on Sofala Road involved the installation of barriers, and lane widening along a 3.1-kilometre section in Peel just north of Dempsey Street.”